Networking QuickBooks 2017 – Part I

by

Last year, I wrote a series of articles on networking for QuickBooks 2016, specifically Enterprise. Almost everyone who has been doing QuickBooks Desktop for any length of time recognizes the proper ways to set up the software to run on a local area network.

This year, a tremendous number of businesses have been, or are in the midst of, transitioning from 2014 to 2017 products. Accordingly, many may not be aware of the significant increase in operational requirements (minimum system requirements) associated with the QuickBooks 2017 product line, especially QuickBooks Enterprise (QBES v17.0).

So I've written a three-part series on QuickBooks 2017, including QuickBooks Enterprise (QBES v17.0). With limited exceptions, this first piece focuses on single-user environments and peer-to-peer networks. Part II will focus on client-server networks, while Part III will cover Remote Desktop networks.

Single User Environment

For example, if you're running QuickBooks 2017 Pro/Premier on your desktop, you should be meeting the following system requirements,

  • Windows Operating System
  • 2.4 GHz processor (minimum)
  • 4 GB RAM minimum (8 GB recommended)
  • 1924 X 768 or higher Screen Resolution
  • 4.5 GB of Disk Space (plus Data File space)
  • Internet: Cable or DSL connection Required

Please note that the RAM requirement is the amount of RAM available to QuickBooks, not the total amount of RAM memory on your computer. In 2014, the minimum RAM requirement for single-user was 1GB, so 2017 quadruples that requirement.

In 2014, only a 2.0 GHz processor was required, but a 2.4 GHz processor is required fir 2017. The video requirements in 2014 were 1020 by 768 screen resolution, as you can see for 2017 the requirement now is 1924 by 768 screen resolution. 

The increased processor and video requirements may necessitate changes to your hardware, or even a computer upgrade, when converting from 2014 to 2017.

Now let’s look at networking practices coupled with system requirements to help overcome upgrade and performance issues. QuickBooks supports three different networking configurations, peer-to-peer, client-server and remote-desktop (shown below).

Local Windows Networks

To permit multiple users to work on QuickBooks at the same time, a designated computer must run the QuickBooks Database Server and host each Company file. QuickBooks is designed for either Client-Server (Dedicated Server hosting QuickBooks) network configurations or peer-to-peer network configurations in which one workstation hosts QuickBooks.

Clearly, while a Client-Server network is the best practice, many installations still will use Peer-to-peer networks for economic reasons.

All local area networks should be running at a minimum of 1000 mbps. This means at the very minimum, 1000 mbps switches/hubs, 1000 mbps ethernet cards in each computer and Category 5e cables. [Best practice: Ethernet Category 6 cabling for true 1000 mbps bi-sync networking, with appropriate Category 6 connectivity equipment.]

For best performance, all networks should be configured for bi-synchronous (duplex) mode.

Wireless networks "are not" acceptable for QuickBooks. Internet connectivity across your network should be either via Cable or DSL at a minimum. QuickBooks 2017 versions require a network connection in order to perform license validation and updates on an ongoing basis. 

If internet connectivity is lost, you may experience significant latency in performing QuickBooks functions, since license validation will be hampered.

Workstation Operating Systems Supported – per Intuit's official "system requirements" for QuickBooks Enterprise 2017 (for Database Servers consult the Server Network section of Part II of this miniseries)

  • Windows 10, all editions, including 64-bit, natively installed
  • Windows 8.1 (Update 1), all editions, including 64-bit, natively installed
  • Windows 7 (SP1), all editions, including 64-bit, natively installed

Network Security and Firewalls – QuickBooks 2017 products were tested by Intuit with the following firewall and antivirus products. With many of these products, it may be necessary to adjust settings within the products to ensure performance with QuickBooks.

  • Windows Server Firewall (all editions)
  • Windows 8.1 Firewall (all editions)
  • Windows 7 Firewall (all editions)
  • Microsoft Security Essentials
  • Avast
  • Windows Defender
  • AVG
  • Symantec (aka: Norton)
  • ESET
  • Avira
  • Kaspersky
  • McAfee
  • Bitdefender
  • Malwarebytes

On all networked computers running QuickBooks 2017 versions, you'll need to configure the Windows Firewall for Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 7, Server 2008, Server 2011 and Server 2012.

Make sure TCP is selected, and type in the following ports for your year of QuickBooks: (If you have multiple years of QuickBooks installed or will be using, you'll need to add these ports for QuickBooks 2017: 8019, 56727, 55373-55377.

In addition, you'll need to ensure these same ports are open through any proprietary third party anti-virus and/or firewall programs. It also may be necessary to add the following executables to firewall exceptions:

  • AutoBackupExe.exe located in C:\Program Files\Intuit\YOUR QUICKBOOKS YEAR
  • Dbmlsync.exe located in C:\Program Files\Intuit\YOUR QUICKBOOKS YEAR
  • DBManagerExe.exe located in C:\Program Files\Intuit\YOUR QUICKBOOKS YEAR
  • FileManagement.exe located in C:\Program Files\Intuit\YOUR QUICKBOOKS YEAR
  • FileMovementExe.exe located in C:\Program Files\Intuit\YOUR QUICKBOOKS YEAR
  • IntuitSyncManager.exe located in C:\Program Files\Common Files\Intuit\Sync
  • QBCFMonitorService.exe located in C:\Program Files\Common Files\Intuit\QuickBooks
  • QBDBMgrN.exe located in C:\Program Files\Intuit\YOUR QUICKBOOKS YEAR
  • QBGDSPlugin.exe located in C:\Program Files\Intuit\YOUR QUICKBOOKS YEAR
  • QBLaunch.exe located in C:\Program Files\Common Files\Intuit\QuickBooks
  • QBServerUtilityMgr.exe located in C:\Program Files\Common Files\Intuit\QuickBooks
  • QBW32.exe located in C:\Program Files\Intuit\YOUR QUICKBOOKS YEAR
  • QBUpdate.exe located in C:\Program Files\Common Files\Intuit\QuickBooks\QBUpdate
  • QuickBooksMessaging.exe located in C:\Program Files\Intuit\YOUR QUICKBOOKS YEAR
  • OnlineBackup.exe located in C:\Program Files\QuickBooks Online Backup

(Note: Always consult information from your third-party antivirus/firewall software publisher for specific instructions regarding the setting of firewall port or executable exceptions.)

Peer-to-Peer Networks

Many small businesses don't have networks using domain or file servers, they simply have several workstations all connected together over what is known as a Peer-to-peer network.

While not a best practice, QuickBooks 2017 versions will run in such an environment and, in these cases, one of the workstations will act as the ‘host’ for QuickBooks.

This means it will store the Company File and also run the QuickBooks Database Server application. As such, this workstation must have the necessary computing capabilities (typically this computer should have the most RAM, biggest hard drive, and best processor) to act as the host.

Peer Hosting Workstation – The peer-to-peer server is a workstation computer in the network that acts as the QuickBooks host. In other words, it physically stores the QuickBooks company files.

Because this workstation is acting as both the QuickBooks server and a QuickBooks Client, it actually should be equipped with more computer resources than if the computer were working as either a Client or Server alone. The minimum requirements for QuickBooks 2017 in this configuration are 8 gigs of RAM. [Best Practice would call for 12 Gigs of RAM, with 16 gigs preferred.]

This also assumes that no more than four other computers will be accessing QuickBooks on this peer-to-peer host.

The computer should have a 2.4 GHz processor at a minimum. Hard drive capacity, according to Intuit, is a minimum of 2.5 GB of disk space, plus additional space for data files. In reality, this computer should be running a 1 TB Hard Drive at a minimum, and it should never exceed 50 percent of capacity.

In addition, the faster the drive in terms of revolutions per minute, the better performance. While it's doubtful that such a workstation in a peer-to-peer network would be running a RAID drive configuration, I'll take this time to recite Intuit's official stand regarding RAID:

"QuickBooks will work with systems running RAID (Redundant Array of Inexpensive Disks), but this is not recommended because performance issues may cause QuickBooks to operate slowly."

If Intuit Data Protect will be used from this hosting workstation, an additional 2 gig of RAM is required (according to Intuit specifications), and sufficient disk space should be allocated such that free space is equal to twice the size of the largest file set to backup to Intuit Data Protect.

[Best Practice: Networks running more than five total computers on QuickBooks should never, in this author's opinion, be operated under a peer-to-peer network.]

Other 'Peer' Workstations – All other workstations on the peer network should be configured with only the QuickBooks Application running as a client. They should not be installed with hosting capabilities.

These computers make use of the QuickBooks application, but the Company File is located on the hosting workstation. At no time should any of these other workstations have hosting turned on.

These workstations should be running a minimum of 4 GB of RAM [Best Practice: 8 or more GB of RAM.] Each workstation should have a 2.4 GHz processor (minimum), and a minimum of 500 GB hard drive with 250 GB of free disk space.

Intuit's Disclosure regarding System Requirements: If the individual product requirements do not specifically state that an operating system, hardware, software, firewall or antivirus is supported, it has not been tested. Intuit cannot promise that your experience will be trouble-free. If you experience problems outside of the supported environment, technical support will be limited to standard troubleshooting. If unresolved, the program should be returned to a supported environment for additional support.

Notes & Disclosures regarding this article: All references in this article are to U.S. versions of all 'named' software, all such software should be set to 'regional settings' of English (United States). Administrator rights are required for the proper installation and operation of servers, recommended for workstations. Natively installed means it was installed on a particular system or environment that it was designed for. This also means that it doesn't need to run in a virtual environment or emulation software. Not all hardware and associated (adjunctive) software has been discussed in this article regardless of any requirement or lack.